S2 E93: The Startup Journey of Gaurav Singh: Obsession, AI, and Building Without Validation

Can ambition be sustainable? Can AI scale without consequence? In this powerful episode of the xMonks Drive Podcast, host Gaurav Arora sits down with Gaurav Singh, founder of Verloop, for an unfiltered conversation on building in the age of AI. From growing up in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, to coding at 10, launching his first projects by 13, and now leading one of India’s most ambitious AI startups, Gaurav shares what most founders won’t: 🔥 Why fundraising is easier than building 💥 Why he stopped seeking validation early 🧠 The cost of obsession—and what “9 to 5” can’t give you 🌍 The hidden environmental impact of artificial intelligence 🚀 How to build a real company in a world chasing hype 00:00 - Fundraising vs Building a Startup 00:25 - From Rewa to Building an AI Company 01:30 - Small-Town Childhood & Memories 03:40 - Discovering Coding at Age 10 06:30 - Making Projects by 13 & Early Hustle 08:20 - Freelancing in College & Startup Spirit 10:50 - StockNinja: First Attempt & Lessons 13:10 - Stopping Validation-Seeking 15:25 - Leveraging College Infrastructure 17:25 - Deep Friendships & Focus 18:50 - IITs, Networks & Reality Check 20:00 - BPO Lessons Spark AI Vision 22:25 - Startup Glamour vs Reality 24:00 - Building a Generational Company 26:00 - Naivety & Landing Nykaa 28:45 - Support Systems & Personal Struggles 31:20 - Global Tech Culture Differences 34:30 - US vs India vs UAE: Mindset Differences 37:50 - Work-Life Balance Myth? 41:30 - AI’s Future: Intelligence On Demand 44:30 - Passion, Purpose & Inner Drive 47:00 - Work vs Life vs Passion Debate 50:00 - Redefining Education, Experience & Value 53:00 - Imagination Economy & Job Displacement 56:00 - Building with Focus & Tiny Iterations 59:00 - Climate, Energy & Startup Choices 01:02:00 - Future of Value: What Will Be Premium? 01:05:00 - Physical Health, Supplements & Optimization 01:08:00 - A Day in Gaurav’s Life: Routines & Reflections 01:10:30 - Closing Thoughts: Note-taking & Reflection 01:11:00 - Outro & Thank You Whether you’re a tech founder, builder, or just curious about the future of work and AI, this episode will challenge how you think about ambition, identity, and what it really means to create something meaningful. 🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com